Singer and actress Aaliyah died Saturday, along with eight others, when a small plane flying them back to the United States crashed after takeoff in the Bahamas, according to authorities.

“We find it devastating and most unfortunate that after having this world-famous star Aaliyah and her crew select the Bahamas as their choice location for her latest video, the project has climaxed on such a tragic note,” Minister of Tourism Tommy Turnquest told the Associated Press, who was visiting Abaco Island, the place of the crash. Aaliyah was in the Bahamas shooting her next video, “Rock the Boat,” off her self-titled album released last month.

Aaliyah Houghton, born in Brooklyn, New York, was 22 years old.

“She was like one of my daughters, she was one of the sweetest girls in the world,” said Quincy Jones, the Grammy-winning producer, arranger and composer to the Associated Press. “She vacationed with me and my family together in Fiji. I loved her and respected her and I am absolutely devastated.”

The private plane, carrying nine Americans, was leaving the Marsh Harbour airport when it crashed Saturday evening, police spokesman Marvin Dameson told the Association. It was on its way to Opa-locka, Florida.

Derek Russell, a native of the island, worked on the video shoot and got Aaliyah’s autograph before she boarded the plane. “She’s a nice girl, a friendly girl,” he said.

Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in Atlanta, said the plane was a Cessna 402 owned by Skystream, a company based in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She said the plane crashed at the end of the airport’s runway at 6:50 p.m. Authority Basil Rahming said one of the Cessna’s engines “apparently failed.”

?Try Again? earned Aaliyah a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocalist and she made her feature acting debut in the film ?Romeo Must Die,? starring opposite Jet Li. She had signed on to star in two “Matrix” sequals.

Fans began mourning her loss just after Midnight Eastern Time when the tragic news broke. Aaliyah and music message boards have been flooded with messages since that time. ?Aaliyah you’re in my heart forever. Rest in peace. You’ll always be my idol and inspiration. I can’t believe you’re gone,? read one.






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